Tiger Trouble

During the ten days of intensive training, Tang Jian improved at an astonishing rate. Naturally, he more or less put on a show in front of Sun Yiying, creating the illusion that an expert was guiding him from behind the scenes.

Even during training with Master Le, the school's only Card Master, Tang Jian had "inadvertently" displayed exceptional card combat skills and control techniques, "almost" comparable to Liu Kun's, who trained regularly.

As his mentor, Sun Yiying was naturally "fully aware" of all this.

But whenever she questioned Tang Jian, he would brush it off vaguely, while "inadvertently" and "accidentally" revealing that an expert had indeed been guiding him behind the scenes.

Thus arose the wonderful misunderstanding Tang Jian had hoped for.

One had been a Three-Star Card Master in his previous life, while the other was a five-star Card Apprentice in this life.

Although Sun Yiying was Tang Jian's mentor, having lived two lives, Tang Jian was actually far more cunning and calculating than her. The illusion he created gradually convinced Sun Yiying, making his rapid progress easier for her to accept.

In truth, Sun Yiying was a decent person and his mentor, so Tang Jian naturally trusted her.

Otherwise, if it had been someone else, Tang Jian would not have dared put on such an act in front of them. If it aroused malicious intentions, this wonderful misunderstanding would be easily exposed.

Now, in many people's eyes, the person behind Tang Jian was Sun Yiying. They believed she often gave him private tutoring, which was why he had improved so rapidly.

But Sun Yiying believed there was another mysterious Card Master guiding Tang Jian. She thought his tremendous improvement was entirely due to that Card Master's instruction, which only deepened her curiosity and desire to investigate.

Still, Sun Yiying restrained that impulse.

Anyone who had truly become a Card Master was no ordinary person.

Since the other party was unwilling to reveal himself publicly, he must have had his reasons. Rashly lifting his mysterious veil might bring unnecessary trouble.

"If you can teach the students from Classes One and Two a harsh lesson during this Interstellar Tower challenge, I'll personally make you a white-quality, seven-star White Jade Flying Serpent Card. It may only be an auxiliary card, but it can calm the mind, focus the spirit, and quickly heal injuries. What do you think?"

Sun Yiying promised him a reward, directly claiming the card she had won in their previous wager as one she had made herself.

Tang Jian's eyes lit up. "White Jade Flying Serpent Card... Heh, Teacher, that's quite a generous offer. Sure, sure. Teaching people a lesson is what I do best."

A White Jade Flying Serpent Card could sell for twenty thousand Federal Currency. Sun Yiying's reward truly tempted him.

Watching Tang Jian make his enthusiastic promise, Sun Yiying felt frustrated.

Her student really would not act without seeing profit first. He was shrewd as could be, nothing like a high school student. Provoking him or stirring up his fighting spirit was often useless; he would only truly get excited after seeing tangible benefits.

No matter how she looked at it, he did not have a young person's impulsive, competitive mentality. It was rather headache-inducing.

"If you can make it into the top five in this Interstellar Tower challenge, not only will you definitely enter the Sprint Rocket Class, but the school will also award you ten thousand Federal Currency and a bottle of Solar Energy Potion as sponsorship. Make good use of this opportunity!"

Sun Yiying glanced at Tang Jian, her delicate brows lifting slightly as she added fuel to the fire. Then she gathered some materials from the desk and left.

Tang Jian stood where he was, calculating the benefits, and broke into a grin.

The school was really generous.

If he could make it into the top five, he would truly strike it rich. Originally, he had intended to hold back a little. As long as he taught the students from Classes One and Two a lesson and got into the Sprint Rocket Class, that would have been enough.

But now that there were such benefits, he had to fight for them.

After gathering at a roadside stall outside the school with Yang Mao and the others for a small celebration, Tang Jian politely declined their invitation to play games and said he needed to go home first.

"Hey, you bastard, that's not very brotherly of you, is it? And are we going just to play games? Glory of the Dead might be tested in the Interstellar Tower tomorrow. We should play a few rounds tonight to get in sync and practice our teamwork."

Yang Mao had drunk a little too much and spoke with a thick tongue.

Tang Jian shoved Yang Mao aside. "You're drunk as a pig's intestines. What teamwork could you possibly play? We'll just perform on the spot tomorrow. I'm leaving."

After saying that, Tang Jian gave the others a slight nod and left.

Glory of the Dead was a card-based tower-pushing battle game that emphasized teamwork to destroy towers and seize enemy territory. The Interstellar Tower did sometimes test this sort of thing.

But Tang Jian did not want to waste time on it now.

His skill level in this area had already been extremely high in his previous life, and he knew very well what level Yang Mao and the others were at now. Tomorrow, he only needed to carry the three of them. There was no need whatsoever to practice coordination tonight; he had other matters to attend to.

Watching Tang Jian's departing figure, Yang Mao did not think much of it and merely raised his middle finger in disdain. But Liu Kun and Gao Yang both felt somewhat uncomfortable, thinking Tang Jian was far too unsociable and pretentiously aloof.

"The Interstellar Tower opens tomorrow, and he's still doing whatever he wants. Honestly..." Gao Yang sighed with a frown.

Liu Kun raised a brow. "Forget it. His skills probably aren't that good anyway. He'd only be dead weight. I'll take you two and get some practice in."

At that moment, in a dark corner outside a shop across the street, four young hoodlums squatted there smoking, watching Tang Jian and the others go their separate ways from afar.

When they saw Tang Jian leave alone.

One somewhat sturdy young man immediately spat out his cigarette, his face lighting up with excitement. "Brother Mosquito, haha, that kid left by himself. Let's make our move."

Smack! The sturdy young man took a slap to the head, making him jerk downward.

"Make a move? Move your motherfucking hands. Can't you use your brain? People like us can't just use our fists. We have to use our heads too." Brother Mosquito, bald and scar-faced, spoke viciously as he pointed at his head in warning.

"Yes, yes. Then what do you suggest?"

The sturdy young man hurriedly nodded. Under the light, his face was revealed to be none other than Xie Dong, who had once had a conflict with Tang Jian.

"I already had my brothers scout the route. That kid must be heading home now, and he has to pass through Yaxi Street to get there. There aren't many people in those alleys at night. It's best to strike tonight." Brother Mosquito snorted.

"Brother Mosquito, you really are brilliant!" Xie Dong quickly flattered him, though inwardly he spat in disdain. That brain of yours is nothing special. How much smarter could you possibly be?

If not for the fact that he needed this man's strength as a three-star Card Apprentice, as well as the combat pet card in his possession, Xie Dong truly would not have been willing to spend two thousand to hire him.

Back then, Tang Jian had threatened that unless Xie Dong brought ten One-Star Blank Energy Cards to apologize, the matter would not be over, and there would eventually be a reckoning. Xie Dong had kept that firmly in mind ever since.

During this time, Xie Dong had learned that Tang Jian was improving rapidly and seemed to have gotten involved with the class mentor. His strength was growing greater and greater, which made Xie Dong somewhat uneasy. He had considered privately resolving their grudge.

But whenever he thought about approaching Tang Jian, he felt unwilling to accept it. It would be hard to save face.

After all, Xie Dong had a minor reputation for being fierce at school. If he bowed his head to Tang Jian just like that, bringing ten One-Star Blank Energy Cards to apologize, it would be utterly humiliating.

So Xie Dong steeled himself and secretly contacted Brother Mosquito, a formidable local thug nearby. He would rather spend more money to hire Brother Mosquito to teach Tang Jian a lesson.

He was quite sinister himself, knowing that Brother Mosquito would not hit too hard, lest he make the matter too serious.

But after spending the money, if Tang Jian only ended up embarrassed and disheveled, it would not ease Xie Dong's hatred. Yet if Tang Jian were crippled, Xie Dong would also face trouble, and Brother Mosquito would not go that far.

Therefore, Xie Dong chose the night before the Sprint Rocket Class selection.

If Tang Jian was injured tonight, even if it was not serious, it would definitely affect his performance tomorrow. That would be equivalent to eliminating a competitor in advance. If Tang Jian failed to enter the Sprint Rocket Class, Xie Dong's revenge would be complete.

Thanks to "Guan Yuan" and "Qing Zhan Di Xi Xi Duan Yuan" for the rewards! Friends who like this book, please add it to your book lists if you have one, and please cast a recommendation vote if you have one. Thank you, everyone.